Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of a Crude Polysaccharide Derived from Green Seaweed Halimeda tuna: Computational and Experimental Evidences.

In this study, we investigated for the first time the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of crude polysaccharide (PSHT) extracted from green marine algae Halimeda tuna. PSHT exhibited anti-oxidant activity in vitro through scavenging 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydroxyl free radical, reducing Fe3+/ferricyanide complex, and inhibiting nitric oxide. PSHT maintained the erythrocyte membrane integrity and prevented hemolysis. Our results also showed that PSHT exerted a significant anti-edematic effect in vivo by decreasing advanced oxidation protein products and malondialdehyde levels and increasing the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in rat's paw model and erythrocytes. Interestingly, PSHT increased the viability of murine RAW264.7 macrophages and exerted an anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cells by decreasing pro-inflammatory molecule levels, including nitric oxide, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Our findings indicate that PSHT could be used as a potential immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-hemolytic, and anti-oxidant agent. These results could be explained by the computational findings showing that polysaccharide building blocks bound both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and TNF-α with acceptable affinities.

The Vitamin D Binding Protein Gene Polymorphism Association with Covid-19-Infected Iraqi Patients.

Vitamin D deficiency, in general, is usually correlated with increased risks of chronic pulmonary disease such as COVID-19 infection. However, the mechanisms are still unknown. Herein, this study aimed to investigate the correlation between vitamin D binding protein gene polymorphism and COVID-19-infected Iraqi patients. The study has been conducted on patients with Covid-19 during the period extended from June, 2021 to April, 2022. 300 samples were collected from healthy and infected people. The demographic characteristics of patients (age, gender and residency) are shown non-significant in all. However, the distribution of DBP (rs12785878-T/G) Polymorphism was detected by Allele Specific PCR technique. The association between DBP (rs12785878) gene polymorphism and risk of Covid-19 is also shown, the heterozygous genotype TG was more frequent in the patients' group in comparison with the control group, 66 versus 58, respectively. Therefore, genotype TG was a genetic risk factor for Covid-19 with an odds ratio of 2.4074 (95% confidence interval of 1.2462-4.6505) and an etiologic fraction of 0.2963. In the addition, the homozygous genotype GG was more frequent in the patients' group in comparison with the control group, 65 versus 54, respectively, Therefore, genotype GG was a risk factor for Covid-19 with an odds ratio of 1.0578 (95% confidence interval of 0.6386-1.7522) and an etiologic fraction of 0.0299. thus, it can be seen that Covid-19 disease has a direct effect on the level of vitamin D in patients infected with the virus compared to healthy people.

Bioactivity of Falkenbergia rufolanosa Methanolic Extract: Assessment of Its Effect on Methyl-Thiophanate Induced Bone and Blood Disorders.

This study aimed to evaluate the potentiality of a mineral and antioxidant-rich methanolic extract of the red marine alga Falkenbergia rufolanosa (FRE) against methyl-thiophanate (MT)-induced toxicity in adult rats. The animals were allocated into four groups: controls, MT (300 mg/kg), MT + FRE, and FRE-treated group for 7 days. Our results demonstrated severe mineral perturbations due to MT treatment, especially in calcium and phosphorus levels in plasma, urine, and bone. Similarly, the hematological analysis revealed increased red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells associated with striking genotoxicity. Interestingly, a significant rise in lipid peroxidation and advanced oxidation protein products level in erythrocytes and bone were noted. Meanwhile, a depletion of the antioxidant status in both tissues occurred. These biochemical alterations were in harmony with DNA degradation and histological variation in bone and blood. In the other trend, data showed that treatment with alga improved MT-induced hematotoxicity, genotoxicity, and oxidative stress in the blood and bone. Osteo-mineral metabolism and bone histo-architecture were also noted. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that the red alga Falkenbergia rufolanosa is a potent source of antioxidant and antibacterial agents, as revealed by the in vitro analysis.

Prevalence of Some Group A Beta-Lactamase Genes among Uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from Women with Cystitis.

Urinary tract infection is a common infection associated with considerable societal cost and even increasing antibiotic resistance, which to some extent represents a challenging issue facing infection control. In this work, some group A Beta-lactamase genes blaTEM, bla SHV, bla CTX-M-1, bla CTX-M-2, bla CTX-M-9, bla CTX-M-25 among Uropathogenic Escherichia coli from women with cystitis have been detected. The results showed that 100 isolates of 611 urine samples belonged to Escherichia coli. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of 100 isolates to 14 antibiotics revealed that 63%, 58%, 36%, 27%, 14%, 6%, 4%, 30%, 26%, 4%, 16%, 2%, and 44% of the isolates were resistant to Ceftazidime, Cefotaxime, Piperacillin, Amoxicillin-clavulanate, Aztreonam, Piperacillin-tazobactam, Imipenem, Meropenem, Levofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, Amikacin, Nitrofurantoin, and Trimethoprome-sulfamethoxazole, respectively. The results revealed that 29% of isolates were multidrug resistant. In the current study, the results of molecular detection showed the predominance of ESBL genes in Escherichia coli isolates: blaTEM 98% followed by blaSHV 69%, and then, blaCTX-M-1 66%. blaCTX-M-9 only appeared in one isolate. Both blaCTX-M-2 and blaCTX-M-25 were not detected. The study concludes the high spreading of coexistence of more than one gene of Group A ß-lactamase genes among uropathogenic Escherichia coli causes them to resist many antibiotics. This makes the treatment regimen unusual or hard to be achieved.

Preparation and characterization of a novel hamada scoparia polysaccharide composite films and evaluation of their effect on cutaneous wound healing in rat.

This work was intended to prepare biodegradable and edible films from polysaccharide extracted from Hammada scoparia leaves (named PSP) and reinforced by poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Four films with different ratios of PSP/PVA: P1 (70:30), P2 (50:50), FP3 (30:70) and pure PVA (100 % PVA) were prepared and characterized in terms of structural (FT-IR), physical (Thickness, solubility and swelling index), optical and thermal properties (TGA). The antioxidant activities of different films were determined in vitro and evaluated in vivo through the examination of wound healing capability. Data revealed that the film P1 displayed the highest antioxidant activity in vitro and accelerated significantly the wound healing, after sixteen days of treatment, attested by higher wound appearance scores and a higher content of collagen (765.924 ± 4.44 mg/g of tissue) confirmed by histological examination, when compared with control, CYTOL CENTELLA® and pure PVA-treated groups. Overall, these results demonstrated that PSP/PVA based films exhibited a higher wound healing potential confirmed with the high antioxidant activities in vitro.